KIGALI - As all secondary schools across the country begin their first term today, the Minister of Education, Dr Charles Murigande has expressed optimism that students will excel during this academic year.

In a phone interview, yesterday, Murigande said that his ministry has done all it takes to help schools, countrywide, to improve the quality of services they offer.

"Excellence in education comes as a result of various factors which include having quality teachers, good laboratories and libraries, better class environment, among others, and we have ensured that all these are in place,” he said.

Murigande, noted that various teachers have been trained in using English as the language of instruction in class, adding that the ministry has completed the distribution of books the teachers need for instruction.

He  said that    the Inspectorate General of Education will continue to monitor the performance of schools in the country, adding   that at every sector, someone has been put in place to monitor school performance in their respective jurisdictions.

The minister stressed that the Teachers’ Service Commission together with the ministry will continue to facilitate training of teachers in English to improve their proficiency.

Speaking to The New Times, the headmaster of Kagarama Secondary in Kicukiro District, Sam Nkurunziza said; "We are fully prepared for this first term because all teachers are around and even a good number of students have already reported back.”

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